Cornucopian shows off sharp form in San Carlos Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - From a sharp win in an allowance race in January to an appealing victory in the Grade 3 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday, the 4-year-old colt Cornucopian has the foundation for what could be a fascinating 2026 season.
In the seven-furlong San Carlos Stakes, Cornucopian closed from third of six to win by 2 3/4 lengths in the quick time of 1:20.71. Cornucopian earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.
The seven-furlong track record of 1:19.70 was set by Twirling Candy in 2010. Cornucopian’s time on Sunday equaled Nyquist’s clocking in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes in 2016. Nyquist later won the Kentucky Derby.
Cornucopian paid $2.60 as a heavy favorite, the latest in a series of short-priced returns in stakes this month at Santa Anita. Splendora paid $2.20 after a win in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 7, the same price Grand Slam Smile returned for her win in the Irish O’Brien Stakes on March 21. Rashmi paid $2.80 for her win in Saturday’s Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes.
Cornucopian, ridden by Juan Hernandez, tracked 11-1 Bartholdy and 12-1 Listenupshance through an early pace of 22.16 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and 44.03 for a half-mile. With a three-wide move Cornucopian took the lead from Listenupshance with more than a furlong remaining.
“My horse settled really well,” Hernandez said. “He was smart and he listened to me. I was in the clear to the outside and I was just tracking the race until the quarter-pole.
“Once I asked him to pick it up, he broke again passing the quarter-pole.”
The San Carlos was the third win in five starts for Cornucopian. Trainer Bob Baffert said the San Carlos will lead to “something big” for Cornucopian, but did not state a specific race goal.
Baffert is taking approximately 30 horses to Churchill Downs later this spring. One option for Cornucopian could be the Grade 1, $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs on May 2.
“We can put him on the road and aim a little higher,” Baffert said.
“He’s such a good horse. He’s come back. He should have a good spring, summer and fall.”
Listenupshance, the winner of a $20,000 claimer for maidens last July, held second, 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Bartholdy. Subsanador finished fourth, followed by Judge Miller and Getaway Car.
Stronghold, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in 2024, was scratched on Sunday morning by trainer Phil D’Amato who said the 5-year-old horse is under consideration for races at Keeneland or Oaklawn Park in coming weeks.
The San Carlos was Subsanador’s first start since a win in the Grade 1 California Crown at Santa Anita in September 2024. Subsanador was the 9-2 second choice in the San Carlos, and was beaten eight lengths.
Cornucopian, by Into Mischief, is owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. Bought for $1.1 million as a yearling, Cornucopian has earned $265,400.
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